Kids who spend time in wild nature reap all kinds of benefits, including improved physical and mental health, lower stress, and higher confidence. Yet many kids and their families have never camped nor hiked. The biggest barrier to getting in the woods? The significant cost of outdoor gear. Now, “gear libraries” across the United States are addressing this challenge by enabling many organizations serving youths to use borrowed gear—for free.

To even think that people still snowmobile without wearing a pack still boggles my mind! Why are you depending on someone else to save you in any unfortunate circumstance if one were one to happen? In the She Shreds Mountain Adventures backcountry survival lessons, I always make sure to go over what everyone in the group has in their pack before we head out on an adventure, to make sure we are prepared for anything. I highly suggest doing this with your buddies that you regularly ride with.

“You’re out there on your own far from civilisation, be the most prepared you can be!” – Julie-Anne Chapman

It was cold, it was dark, and it was the evening of November 30th. 2.73 miles–that’s all we needed. Less than a week earlier I had hurt my foot by foolishly wearing the wrong shoes on a hike while on vacation. Now, it was up to Daddy to take our two children out onto the city streets in the cold, dark night. Completing the HiB 30 November Challenge with a total of 30 miles depended on it. A round-trip journey to the grocery store with just a few detours got them the mileage they needed, and my children returned home triumphant and tired.

Hiking is a pleasurable pastime and a good way for people to stay healthy and happy. The activity presents ample scope to get sunshine, fresh air and exercise. However, it is important to stay hydrated while exploring hiking trails because a hiker is susceptible to dehydration.

For senior hikers it is even more crucial to stay hydrated because, on an average, older adults have 10% less fluid in their bodies as compared to younger adults. In addition, seniors also experience a diminished sense of thirst that leads to a reduced fluid intake. But young or old, it is necessary for each and every hiker to stay hydrated before, during and after a hike.

Brian Threlkeld just took an 8-day trip around Baxter National Park where he experienced some extreme conditions. During any trip no matter its duration it’s important to be prepared, we asked Brian to summarize his experience and give future hikers some advice on what to carry. Check out some of the key items that made his trip enjoyable and his advice for future adventurers.

While traveling for 8 days around Baxter State Park in northern Maine, we encountered many situations requiring diligence and preparedness. The mercury in the thermometer never rose above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Most nights were single or double digits below zero, and we had to manage lots of frozen gear in the mornings.

Heading out into the wilderness can be an amazing experience that allows you to explore remote areas and challenge yourself. As a smart adventurer, you’ve probably already taken the steps to prepare for your journey by bringing along the basics for survival and knowing the terrain. But anytime you’re a few hours off the trail or deep in the wilderness, you are assuming risk and should be prepared for potentially life threatening survival situations like getting lost or injured. That’s why it’s good to know some basic skills you can draw on when the going gets rough.

Mountain sickness is an illness that can affect mountain climbers, hikers, skiers, or travelers at high altitudes, usually above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). On your next trip to the mountains, be sure to watch yourself and your companions for signs of altitude sickness as you travel to higher elevations.

What causes Altitude Illness or Mountain Sickness? Altitude Illness is a direct result of the reduced barometric pressure and concentration of oxygen in the air at high elevations. The lower pressure makes the air less dense, so each time we breathe each inhalation contains fewer oxygen molecules and the body begins to feel deprived resulting in headaches, shortness of breath, weakness and nausea.

This past August I had the incredible pleasure of venturing West to participate in the 10th annual TransRockies Run. A New Englander by birth, and current South Carolina resident by choice, I am as “East Coast” as they come. Having never been to Colorado or the Rocky Mountains, I knew I was going to be in for the experience of a lifetime, albeit a potentially difficult experience. As I mentioned in a previous post, training to race at altitude while living at sea level was…interesting, to say the least. So what did I discover about running at altitude?

With fall upon us, some of the best hikes are ahead, allowing us to view changing leaves and summit glorious mountain peaks. To help you prepare, we’ve assembled some essential gear guides and timely tips for your hiking adventures.

Know before you go:

Hiking is one of those things that is best not to “wing-it”. Check out your hike and route before you go. We like the app from Yonder or AllTrails (LINK) as they help to identify great hikes and provide maps and travel tips.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury in the United States. When you’re at the local pool, out on your boat or body surfing in the waves, you will want to know what to do in a drowning situation. We’ve shared a few of The American Red Cross Water Safety Basics here but a Life Guard & Water Safety training course is also a great way to get hands-on experience. http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding.